Criticism of Netanyahu

Schallenberg: “Gaza belongs to the Palestinians!”

Schallenberg intends to make a statement to the United Nations on Tuesday.(Bild: APA/BMEIA/MICHAEL GRUBER)

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) sees no chance of peace for Israel without a two-state solution with Palestine. In the run-up to his participation in a UN Security Council debate on the Middle East, Schallenberg also issued a clear rejection of a permanent Israeli presence in the Gaza Strip on Monday. 

Schallenberg was expected to give a speech in the most powerful UN body on Tuesday at around 5 p.m. local time (11 p.m. CET) and hold bilateral meetings. An exchange with UN Secretary-General António Guterres was also planned.

Netanyahu goes too far for Schallenberg
Austria is one of the biggest supporters of Israel, which has come under massive international criticism for its campaign to destroy Hamas in the Gaza Strip. However, the Austrian government cannot go along with the categorical rejection of a two-state solution with the Palestinians expressed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the weekend - even though Israel's security must be guaranteed. 

"A negotiated two-state solution based on international law is the only show in town - the only way that Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security," emphasized Schallenberg in the run-up to his trip to New York. In this respect, he is obviously hoping for a continuation of the diplomatic rapprochement between Israel and the Arab states, which was abruptly interrupted by the Hamas terror attack on October 7.

Gaza belongs to the Palestinians!

Alexander Schallenberg

Such a "normalization perspective" is a "catalyst for peace, security and prosperity in the region. These efforts must not be torpedoed by the terrorist organization Hamas," said Schallenberg.

Schallenberg intends to make a statement to the United Nations on Tuesday.(Bild: APA/BMEIA/MICHAEL GRUBER)

Minister criticizes Netanyahu government
Schallenberg also took a clear stance against ideas expressed by members of the Israeli government, among others, to occupy the Gaza Strip, which is inhabited by more than two million Palestinians. "Gaza belongs to the Palestinians: I reject any plan for expulsion or a permanent Israeli presence. There needs to be a civilian Palestinian representative body that is accepted by the people of Gaza and that is willing and able to represent their legitimate concerns," said Schallenberg.

"Hamas and other terrorist groups must never again become an existential threat to Israel. Israel's security must be guaranteed," emphasized Schallenberg. He reaffirmed Israel's right to self-defense and once again called for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages abducted by Hamas, including an Austrian-Israeli father.

Help in, hostages out
However, "more and longer-lasting humanitarian pauses" are also needed because the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is worsening from day to day. "Humanitarian aid must come in, the hostages must go out," said the Foreign Minister.